equally culpable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "equally culpable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more parties that share the same level of blame or responsibility for a wrongdoing. Example: "In the investigation, it was determined that both parties were equally culpable for the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both the giver and receiver are equally culpable and suffer equal penalties.

University of California, Berkeley

We're all equally culpable.

The Guardian - Sport

We can't say "were equally culpable … than".

The New York Times

Moments later Agüero was equally culpable.

The Guardian - Sport

Jones identifies the previous Labour government as equally culpable.

The Guardian - Books

Their own government is equally culpable; Pakistan has been complicit in several strikes.

The New York Times

Equally culpable is the royalist PAD that Mr Kasit belongs to.

The Economist

Russia, Belarus and Bulgaria are all quoted by international analysts as at least equally culpable.

The Guardian

So anyone who sights you is also equally culpable of not having plans.

The New York Times

This doesn't mean that the two sides are equally culpable in any moral sense.

The New Yorker

It was Agent Provocateur that provoked him, your honour (other brands of lingerie are available – and equally culpable).

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "equally culpable" when you want to emphasize that the blame is shared and not solely attributable to one person or entity.

Common error

Avoid using "equally culpable" when the actions or contributions of the involved parties are significantly different. Misrepresenting the situation can lead to unfair judgment and inaccurate understanding of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "equally culpable" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, to describe nouns (people, entities) that share the same degree of blame or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature. It is used to indicate a shared level of fault in a particular situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "equally culpable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that assigns shared blame or responsibility for a negative outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function as an adjectival phrase makes it a useful tool for specifying that multiple parties are at fault to the same degree. While applicable in various contexts, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Science, maintaining a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects the shared nature and comparable extent of the blame. Remember to consider alternatives like "jointly responsible" or "equally responsible" to best suit your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally responsible

A more neutral alternative, focusing on shared responsibility rather than culpability.

comparably guilty

Focuses specifically on guilt and its similarity between parties.

jointly responsible

Emphasizes shared accountability without necessarily implying blame.

similarly liable

Implies a legal or formal responsibility that is shared.

analogously blameworthy

A more formal and nuanced way of expressing shared blame.

indistinguishably at fault

Highlights the difficulty in distinguishing the degree of fault between parties.

to the same degree blamable

A less common but grammatically correct way of saying equally blameworthy.

of like culpability

A more formal and slightly archaic phrasing.

on par with responsibility

Highlights that both have the same level of responsibility.

sharing accountability

Focuses on the shared aspect of responsibility rather than the degree of culpability.

FAQs

How to use "equally culpable" in a sentence?

You can use "equally culpable" to describe situations where multiple parties share the same level of blame or responsibility for a wrongdoing. For instance, "Both companies were equally culpable in the environmental damage caused by the oil spill".

What can I say instead of "equally culpable"?

You can use alternatives like "jointly responsible", "equally responsible", or "similarly liable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "equally culpable" or "equally responsible"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Equally responsible" emphasizes shared duty or obligation, while "equally culpable" emphasizes shared blame or guilt. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

What's the difference between "equally culpable" and "partially responsible"?

"Equally culpable" indicates that multiple parties share the blame to the same degree. "Partially responsible", on the other hand, suggests that someone bears some responsibility, but not the entirety of the blame.